Long Weekend Trip

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

Last weekend was Victoria Day, a long weekend here in Canada, known as May "Two Four".  It actually occurs on the third Monday in the month May, despite it's original purpose, which was to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday on May 24th.  For many it marks the opening of summer here in Canada, even though the season doesn't officially open for another month.

As luck had it, my lovie actually had four days off, so we decided to take Mykaela out to Halifax to meet her boyfriend for the first time.  They met playing an online game a couple of years ago and just stayed friends, talking on MSN and Facebook.  They started "dating" over three months ago.

HUBBA WHA???????
You are probably thinking that we are insane for even considering letting them meet, and you are probably right. My hubby was "stationed" in Halifax for seven months in '09 and I had the pleasure of visiting him a couple times out there.  I fell in love with that city, so I'll use any excuse to go back.

Goofin around at the airport in Halifax.

And go back we did.  This time just my lovie and my baby girl... I was excited to share the city with her, but I should have known that she would care less about the city and only have eyes for her boyfriend.

The first meeting... can you say, "awkward silence"? LOL

It didn't take them long to warm up to each other though and soon they were holding hands and strolling along the boardwalk at the Halifax Harbour.

Jellyfish in the harbour.  We saw starfish too!

Mykaela LOVES cows (she gets that from me! :D) so she loved COWS shop/ice cream parlour. The best ice cream in the world! If you love cows or know someone who does, then check out their website for some really cool and unique cow themed gifts and original t-shirts. It's funny how everything relates to cows!

While I was climbing around on the rocks to take pics at Peggy's Cove, my Blackberry fell out of my pocket and down this crevice into the ocean.  We all tried to retrieve it, but it was just out of reach. :( Someday, after humans have annihilated themselves off the planet and the aliens discover Earth, they will find my Blackberry under the giant boulders at the edge of Nova Scotia. LOL

I did have a chance to browse through some shops on Saturday.  I just loved this store with lots of vintage styles and GREAT hats!  The last one was my favourite. No I didn't buy any of them because there's no where to wear them... Why don't we wear hats any more?

Recipe: Chicken Linguine Tettrazini

What's for Dinner?

My version of East Side Mario's dish by the same name. I use jarred alfredo sauce and pre-grilled chicken strips (the non-breaded kind) to make this yummy dinner in just the time it takes to cook the pasta, but if you have the time and ambition you can make your own sauce and chicken.

1 jar Classico Roasted Garlic Alfredo, or make your own
1 lb. grilled chicken strips, or cook your own
1 Roma tomato, diced
1 can whole mushrooms, or use fresh button mushrooms
Fresh basil, to taste
Enough Linguine noodles for everyone

If you're not using jarred sauce or pre-cooked chicken, prepare these first.
Cook pasta in a large pot according to package directions.
While pasta is cooking, cook the chicken strips and the mushrooms in a large skillet until heated through.
At the same time, heat the alfredo sauce in a medium saucepan until bubbly.
Chop basil in thin strips, leaving a few smaller leaves whole.  Fresh basil is quite potent, so you only need a little bit.
Drain and rinse pasta. Return to the pot. Pour sauce over noodles and toss to coat evenly. Add tomatoes, basil, chicken and mushrooms and toss lightly.
Serve.  Soooo yummy with garlic toast and a side salad too.  P:

The home improvements continue...

So... After eleven years of living here I finally got around to painting the dining room.  We have an open concept house and it's one of the "spaces" that you can see from the front door.

It has never been used as a formal dining room, since when we moved in we didn't have the "proper" furniture to put in it.  At first it was a play area for the kids, and then it evolved into the computer zone harbouring a large "C" shaped desk  which housed 3 computers for the family - mine, my hubby's and one that the kids shared.  I always said that when the basement was finished that the computers would be moved downstairs and I would be able to finally claim the space for it's original purpose.

That day is finally here...
The basement is finished.
The computers are in the basement.
The dining room is finally empty.

There was no real decision to make regarding colours because the living room, which is a part of the same space, has been painted for years. Benjamin Moore's Jalapeno, Dill Pickle, and Marblehead Gold.  I've always known how the dining room would look.

RED! Actually when we first moved in and I thought about the colours I wanted to use hot, hot pink in the dining room, but with the colour scheme I had for the rest of the space, hot pink wouldn't have fit, so I took one of the sofa cushions to Home Depot and sampled the lighter red in the print. The colour it came up with is called Regal Red.

I love, LOVE, L O V E the red!!!!
It really draws the eye and looks great as the focal wall.  The other walls in the dining room are the same Marblehead Gold as the hallway.

The dogs don't really care what colour the walls are... as long as they have a spot to snooze.

She's such a cutie patootie!

Ok... now you're just showing off.

:P